The Cubs had a successful homestand, going 4-2, though they had some real ups and downs in scoring runs, first crushing the Padres and then being crushed by the Cardinals. They outscored San Diego 35-12 in sweeping them, then got outscored by the Cardinals 24-7, though managed to win the final game against St. Louis.
That said, let’s see who was hot and not for the Cubs over the past week.
Three up
Dansby Swanson had himself a week in just three games
Over the six-game homestand, Swanson batted .409/.409/1.136 (9-for-22) with a double, five home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs scored.
The thing is, that split up in this way: 8-for-13 against the Padres with all five of the homers, then 1-for-9 against the Cardinals. It’s a weird way to have a possible Player of the Week performance. We’ll find out whether Dansby gets that honor later today.
Pete Crow-Armstrong gets an All-Star nod and has another fine week
PCA is another candidate for Player of the Week, which would be his third this year (along with his NL Player of the Month for June award).
Over the six games, he batted .474/.615/.842 (9-for-19) with a double, two home runs, five walks, six runs scored and three stolen bases. That gives him 19 home runs and 23 steals for the year, on pace for about 35 homers and 40 steals. His .383 OBP ranks ninth in the NL, his .527 SLG ranks eighth, and his .910 OPS is fifth.
Alex Bregman has shown signs of coming out of his season-long slump
Bregman batted .261/.393/.478 (6-for-23) over the week with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and five walks. Even with his batting drought, he continues to draw tons of walks. His season OBP of .340 is decent enough, and over his last 23 games it’s .377.
Peterson’s first start, against the Brewers in Milwaukee, was pretty good.
His second, Friday against the Cardinals, was… I don’t really have words for how bad it was. He would get ahead of hitters and not put them away. He’d get two easy outs in an inning and then get pounded.
Maybe it’s the Cardinals. Peterson has a 19.64 ERA (16 earned runs in 7.1 innings) vs. St. Louis this year and a 5.40 ERA (42 earned runs in 70 innings) against everyone else. Okay, 5.40 isn’t great but it’s a lot better than 19.64.
Peterson is scheduled to start Thursday against the Orioles in Baltimore. Do better, David.
Ian Happ is slumping again
Happ had kept his OPS in the .800 area for a while, which is a good range.
Now it’s at .768 after he hit .143/.217/.190 (3-for-23) over the six games with seven strikeouts.
The good news for Happ is that three games this week will be in Cincinnati, where he loves to hit. In 63 career games at GABP, Happ has batted .291/.393/.619 (65-for-223) with 18 home runs. The 1.012 OPS is by far his best at any ballpark, including Wrigley Field.
Hopefully three games there will help send Happ into the All-Star break on a high note.
Nico Hoerner just can’t seem to turn the corner
Nico again had a mediocre week, batting .227/.280/.273 (5-for-22) with one extra-base hit (a double). He hasn’t stolen a base since June 2.
He continues to play solid defense. Here’s hoping the All-Star break will get Nico back on track.
The Rainiers dropped the series to a poor Reno team, unable to best the Arizona affiliate that’s struggled for much of the 2026 season. There’s reason for optimism for the Rainiers and they should have a reasonable chance of rectifying their losing ways over the next month or so, but they’ve really struggled up to this point and will need to get things turned around quickly if they want any hope of sneaking into the PCL playoffs.
He’s largely flown under the radar for the past few years, but lefty reliever Peyton Alford has been incredibly consistent during his time in the Mariner system. Primarily a fastball-breaking ball pitcher, Alford has posted excellent K-rates across all six of his seasons as a professional and makes him a strong candidate to debut in the big leagues at some point this season. He’s older (28) for a prospect, but given his reliability and lengthy track record of success, he’s a name to know as a bullpen candidate for the stretch run.
Arkansas Travelers
The Travelers, who dropped last week’s slate by a score of 4-2, will be losing two of their best hitters after to promotion in the coming days. Top sluggers Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo have reportedly earned their way up to Tacoma this week and will make their Triple-A debuts at just 21 years of age, a well deserved move that puts them on the doorstep of a big league debut. Montes (25 HR, .919 OPS) has seemingly optimized his “Three True Outcomes” approach while Arroyo (.820 OPS) has steadily improved his numbers after a slower start to the year. Two of the top five prospects in this system, Tacoma will get some much needed prospect power in their lineup that’s really struggled to put together consistent production.
Outstanding start by Kade Anderson. Final line: 6IP, 3H, 2R, 0BB, 9K, 20 whiffs, 74 pitches, 51 strikes.
Reclaiming the lead on the minor league strikeout leaderboard, Kade Anderson was again lights out on the mound this past week. Now sitting with a ridiculous 108/10 K/BB ratio, Anderson’s elite command and deceptive stuff have arguably made him the best pitcher in all of minor league baseball, baffling hitters with four pitches he can place anywhere he wants at any given time. The Mariner brass have made it clear they have little desire to move Anderson up to the hitter-friendly PCL despite his dominance against Texas League competition, so both he and Ryan Sloan (who was also excellent this week) seem like locks to hold down this rotation for the foreseeable future, giving the Travs a great shot at staying competitive through the summer. The offense will need some people to fill the hole left by Montes and Arroyo, but with a nasty bullpen and elite rotation, expect the Travelers to be just fine through the dog days of summer.
Everett AquaSox
It was a clean sweep for the Frogs this week, punctuating a dominant week over the Angels’ affiliate with an 11-6 victory in Sunday afternoon’s contest. The bats have really come alive in recent days and should give this club a great chance at a playoff spot; Spokane’s currently on a nine game winning streak and looks unreal right now, but Everett’s managed to keep pace and sits just one game back with plenty of season left to play.
It’s been a rough handful of weeks for stud catching prospect Luke Stevenson, but he had a great week against the Tri-Cities and has hopefully escaped his slump. Launching two homers (one being a grand slam off of Tyler Bremner) and reaching base in half of his plate appearances, Stevenson showed off just how good he can be when he’s got things going right offensively. The power is the key for him; he both walks and whiffs at extremely high clips and needs consistent pop to make his offensive output tenable. Now showing off extra base thump for the first time six weeks, Stevenson is a bat to monitor in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
Jonny Farmelo has been truly unconscious at the plate for the better part of two months now and could be a candidate to replace Lazaro Montes in Arkansas’ outfield. Collecting 11 hits across five games this week, Farmelo has raised his season OPS up to .877 and cut his strikeout rate down to 25%, both excellent progressions that bode well for his seemingly inevitable jump up to the Texas League. Healthy for the first time in his career, Farmelo’s combination of speed and power make him one of the most exciting prospects in this entire system; a 20 homer season is certainly on the table, and he’s got a very real shot at pushing his stolen base total up beyond 40 if he continues to be aggressive on the basepaths. Look for Farmelo to take his talents to Arkansas in the coming weeks. He’s earned it.
Inland Empire 66ers
IE split yet again this week and largely remain in a state of limbo in the standings. Yet to break through and truly get hot for an extended period of time, the 66ers have been stagnant for the majority of this season and lack star power up and down their roster. They’ll likely get an injection of talent after this weekend’s draft, but until those reinforcements make their way to the Cal League, it seems unlikely a marked change is on the horizon.
Anderson Guevara strikes out 3 over 2 perfect innings. 66ers pitchers strike out 16 batters in the 5-0 shutout. pic.twitter.com/H3aMLRkJp2
Despite the general struggles of the team overall, there’s a handful of bullpen arms that have earned some praise for their strong 2026 campaigns. Anthony Karoly, Anderson Guevara, Connor Wilford, and Cole Cheatham each have produced in the opportunities they’ve been given, with Guevara in particular carrying a large load for the 66ers ‘pen. Relief prospects in A-ball are always hard to evaluate and are closer to lottery tickets than anything else, but having arms that are producing at every level of the minor leagues is important for the overall health of the system and affords them some peace of mind as they construct waves of prospect talent for the coming years. Watch out for these guys over the coming seasons; the M’s turned some arms not wholly dissimilar from them into Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez at last year’s trade deadline and radically changed the outlook of the team for the next half decade.
ACL Mariners
The electric tandem of Nick Becker and Yorger Bautista continued to rake in the ACL and look to be heating up rather rapidly. Becker, who’s had a great stretch at the plate that’s lasted nearly two months at this point, stole another two bags and collected five hits across four games, smacking a pair of doubles in Friday night’s contest. Bautista, who had a four-hit game in that same game, launched his seventh homer of the season and continues to flash some elite power potential. Both players will need to prove they can hit enough to make their offensive profiles work as they climb through the minor leagues, but with steady improvements being made as the season progresses, the two teenagers have given evaluators enough to overlook the present bat-to-ball issues and dream on the gaudy potential if it all clicks. Both immensely talented, it seems closer to a coin flip if we see these two in A-ball this year; they’re producing, but slow playing bats with contact problems may prove to be a prudent decision.
DSL Mariners
This is easily the best lineup the DSL squad has had in years. Juan Rijo, Gregory Pio, Gabriel Guanchez, Jarvis Gomez, Fabian Gonzalez, and Elias Perez all have an OPS north of .900, and there’s plenty of others that have consistently helped with the run production all season. With a strong crop of talent this season and one of the best tandems of talent incoming next season, the DSL squad has found new life after several years of ineptitude and disappointment.
Rui Hachimura, one of the top free agents still available, was hoping for a raise from the $18.3 million he made last season, coming off an impressive playoff run with the Lakers (17.5 points per game, shooting 56.9% from 3). That market was not out there, and with the Lakers’ rash of moves this offseason, he was the man standing without a chair when the music stopped.
So he is jumping across town. Hachimura has agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the LA Clippers, a move broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. The Clippers have a team option on the second year, reports Law Murray of The Athletic. The Clippers and Hachimura's agent (Darren Matsubara of THE•TEAM) reached a deal early in free agency and had hoped to work out a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, but no deal could be agreed to, Charania added.
Hachimura is a solid pickup for the Clippers, adding a 6'8" forward who scored 11.5 points a game and shot 44.7% from 3-point range last season and has shown the last couple of years that he can step up in the playoffs.
With Kawhi Leonard headed to Toronto, Hachimura could start next to Brandon Ingram as the forwards, with Darius Garland and No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler as the guards.
The Clippers can make this signing with the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, which will hard-cap them at the first apron of the luxury tax, or they can just use cap space. Either way, it likely limits what the Clippers could offer to someone like Peyton Watson, if they wanted to go after the Nuggets' restricted free agent.
The Atlanta Braves send Reynaldo Lopez to the mound tonight, and he's been quite reliable. The right-hander owns a 2.26 FIP over his last six outings. While just two of those were starts, he hasn't allowed a single home run during that span.
Lopez typically serves as an opener, tossing 3-4 innings, but the Braves' bullpen has been solid lately, posting a 3.92 xERA over the last week.
Meanwhile, the New York Mets send Freddy Peralta to the bump. The righty has a 5.08 FIP across his last five appearances, and he's allowed 1.54 HR/9 in the last month.
That's a dangerous statistic against a Braves offense that just scored 23 runs across the last two games of this series while carrying a .205 ISO over the last six games.
Atlanta will stay hot at the dish, while Lopez and the bullpen will keep the Mets at bay.
Mets vs Braves Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 runs (+114)
The Mets may have scored 10 runs on Sunday, but they're still struggling offensively. NY has posted just 99 wRC+ over their last six contests while carrying a .179 ISO.
Lopez has limited opponents to a 32.9% hard-hit rate over the last month, and the Braves pen has allowed just a 38% hard-hit rate during that span.
This feels like a game where the Braves will do most of the scoring given their recent offensive consistency, but Atlanta's pitching can limit the Mets.
A 6-2, 5-3 scoreline feels possible.
I'll play this pick up to -110.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 33-29, +2.97 units
Over/Under bets: 34-27, +1.40 units
Mets vs Braves weather
Rain is possible at first pitch, with a 49 percent chance of precipitation at 7 p.m. ET before conditions clear up as the game progresses. Wind stays light all night, topping out around 4.7 mph, so it shouldn't meaningfully affect fly balls or scoring. The bigger factor is the early rain chance, which could cause a brief delay but is unlikely to impact the full game.
Mets vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Mets +117 | Braves -122
Run line: Mets +1.5 (-170) | Braves -1.5 (+163)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-122) | Under 8.5 (+117)
Mets vs Braves trend
The Atlanta Braves have hit the Game Total Under in 26 of their last 45 home games (+9.50 Units / 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Braves.
How to watch Mets vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Date
Monday, July 6, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
SNY, BravesVision
Mets starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta (5-7, 4.82 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Reynaldo Lopez (4-1, 3.31 ERA)
Mets vs Braves latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Matt Seelinger practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Earlier today, the Mets made a small trade, acquiring right-hander Matt Seelinger from the Tigers for cash considerations. Seelinger, who was pitching for Detroit’s Triple-A affiliate, will likely report to Syracuse.
Seelinger is a Long Island native who pitched for Farmingdale State College from 2014-2017 before being drafted in the 28th round of the 2017 MLB draft. The righty has yet to pitch in the majors, though has put up solid numbers in Triple-A this year. He currently owns a 3.89 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP for the Toledo Mud Hens this year, with 49 strikeouts and 19 walks in 39 1/3 innings pitched. Last season, he started in Double-A for the Tigers’ organization, where he pitched to a 1.89 ERA in 11 games before being promoted to Triple-A for the first time in his career. There, he posted a 3.30 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP, with 55 strikeouts and 22 walks in 46 1/3 innings.
Seelinger reportedly had an upward mobility clause in his contract with Detroit, which meant Detroit had to either promote him or trade him to an interested party. This could mean that he’ll be joining the Mets’ bullpen soon, or at the very least will be added to the 40-man roster. With the club expected to be sellers at the deadline, they could part with several relievers, opening the door for Seelinger to make his major league debut with the club later this year. Time will tell, but at the very least Seelinger will now be pitching closer to home. He previously pitched for the Long Island Ducks in 2024 as part of his journey.
It's been the summer of additions for the Toronto Maple Leafs and GM John Chayka this off-season. Since Chayka was hired as the Leafs' GM in early May, he's made an abundance of moves to improve his hockey club.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, on the final episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast this season, reported that the Maple Leafs could have their eyes on another noteworthy transaction.
"I think Toronto is still hopeful to add another difference-maker," Friedman said. He admitted that any move Toronto may be considering could be made later, as the organization has until September for training camp to make an off-season move.
Nonetheless, Friedman believes that there could be a substantial move coming at some point for the Maple Leafs.
"I don't think they're done swinging," he said. "I think if there's something out there that they could do that they see as impactful, they will do it."
Any impactful move that Toronto makes would likely need to include a roster player or two heading out the other way. That's because the Maple Leafs are currently over the salary cap, according to puckpedia.com.
Indeed, to deal with that overage, Toronto can send down a couple of players to bury their salary cap hit. But the reality is, the Leafs are in a tough spot to simply add anyone notable without money going out the other way in some sort of roster transaction.
The one trade was on July 1 with the Lightning again, this time to acquire Nick Paul, with Hildeby among other assets being shipped out. On the same day, Chayka signed Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons and Brandon Duhaime.
Not to mention drafting Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in 2026, who is expected to crack the NHL roster for next season.
Among these names, what else could Chayka have up his sleeve?
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Lakers starting forward Rui Hachimura has signed a 2-year, $28M deal with the LA Clippers.
The Lakers are losing one of their main forwards to their crosstown rival.
Rui Hachimura will sign with the Clippers in free agency, adding to the long list of players who have departed the Lakers as part of their roster reconstruction.
Hachimura agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Clippers, ESPN first reported.
Lakers starting forward Rui Hachimura has signed a 2-year, $28M deal with the LA Clippers. Getty Images
There’s a team option for the second year.
The report added that Hachimira and camp came to an understanding with the Clippers early in free agency and waited for the Lakers’ offseason moves to take place before pursuing a sign-and-trade, but that didn’t come to fruition, with Hachimura agreeing to a deal without the Lakers’ involvement.
Hachimura addressed his departure from the Lakers on social media.
“Thank you Lakers Nation for the past three years,” he said. “We had some great moments and I will always remember the memories we made together.”
Hachimura is expected to fill the starting power forward spot for the Clippers after they traded Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. Getty Images
The Lakers relinquished Hachimura’s cap hold and the free agency rights that would’ve allowed them to go over the salary cap to resign him to make their additions.
Hachimura’s return to the Lakers after 3 ½ seasons with the franchise was viewed as “unlikely,” a source told The California Post over the weekend, though it wasn’t clear where he would play next.
But the 6-foot-8 forward will get to stay in his preferred destination of LA with the move to the Clippers.
Hachimura was a key part of Los Angeles’ success in the postseason when they upset the Rockets in 6 games. Anadolu via Getty Images
Hachimura averaged 12.3 points (51.6% shooting) and 4.3 rebounds in his 228 regular season games (146 starts) with the Lakers after they acquired him from the Wizards in February 2023 for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.
The Lakers re-signed Hachimura to a three-year, $51 million deal when he was a free agent during the 2023 offseason.
He significantly improved his 3-point shooting after coming to L.A., making 41.5% of his 3s during his Lakers tenure after shooting 35.6% on 3s with the Wizards.
Hachimura, who was the No. 9 pick in the 2019 draft, shot 44.3% on 3s during 2025–26, which was the league’s fifth-best mark.
He consistently stepped up during the postseason, averaging 13.4 points on 52.6% shooting (50.7% on 3s) in 36 playoff games with the Lakers.
Hachimura averaged a career-high 17.5 points (54.9% shooting, 56.9% on 3s) and four rebounds in the Lakers’ 10 playoff games this past spring.
With Hachimura’s departure, the Lakers will lose every starter who helped them take a 3–0 lead in their first round playoff series against the Rockets: James, Ayton, Smart, Kennard and Hachimura.
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While Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach elected to file for arbitration before the 5 PM deadline on Sunday, defenseman Arber Xhekaj chose not to. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenseman is therefore still eligible to receive an offer sheet from another team.
The rugged defenseman’s last contract was a two-year pact with a $1.3 million cap hit, and his situation hasn’t improved much since he signed it in 2024 with GM Kent Hughes. He was in the lineup for 65 games last season, picking up a goal and three assists for a total of four points, was assessed 116 penalty minutes and led the team in hits with 178, eight more than Zachary Bolduc.
While Xhekaj brings a physical element to the game that no other defenseman on the Habs roster can match, bench boss Martin St-Louis struggles to trust him on the ice, and his average ice time was an all-time low last season at just 11:25, a decrease for the second consecutive season. In 2022-23, he averaged 15:16 of action; in 2023-24, 15:56; and in 2024-25, 14:47. In the playoffs, he was only used in 13 games and averaged 8:06 of action. In his last game, against the Buffalo Sabres, he was on the ice for only 1:52.
Taking all this into account, it’s hardly surprising that the supersized defenseman elected not to go to arbitration. He doesn’t have much leverage, and, in truth, he might be better off receiving an offer sheet from another team. At this stage, it feels like his career would be best served by moving on to a team that will use him regularly.
However, the Canadiens would have the option to match any offer or settle for the compensation and let the defenseman walk. However, if the offer sheet had a cap hit below $1,544,424, there would be no compensation. If it were between $1,544,425 and $2,340,037, it would be a third-round pick. Such a low offer sheet is hardly ever seen in the NHL, however, and only 17 teams still have their third-round pick, making it possible for them to make such an offer.
In 2024, when he signed his last contract, a deal was reached on July 30, and it does look like the hulking defenseman may need to be patient once again this season. Aside from Dach, no player from the Canadiens’ organization has filed, meaning that AHL players Brett Berard, Sean Farrell, Jared Davidson, Hunter McKown and Maksymilian Szuber chose to go without. As for Zach Bolduc, he doesn't have arbitration rights.
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 23: Trevor Condon #9 bats during the 2026 Draft Combine at Chase Field on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
2026 MLB Draft Preview: Andrew Williamson scouting report.
The 2026 is less than a week away — the first round kicks off on July 11, 2026 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #16, their second round pick is at #54, and their third round pick is at #89.
Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at Georgia high school outfielder Trevor Condon.
Trevor Condon is a 5’11”, 175 lb. lefthanded hitting, righthanded throwing outfielder out of Etowah High School in Woodstock, Georgia. Condon turned 18 in early January. he is committed to the University of Tennessee.
Condon has a quality hit tool, though most reports mention his unorthodox swing. However, the BP write-up on Condon indicates that he’s reduced the amount of pre-contact motion he has in the box this spring, with his previous timing mechanism giving concerns about how well his swing would translate to the professional level. He gets good reports on his swing decisions and his contact ability. He is seen as having the potential for average power, with impressive bat speed and good strength. However, he hasn’t shown the ability in-game to pull the ball in the air, and his swing doesn’t generate a lot of loft.
Condon is a true centerfielder, someone who will be able to handle the position as a professional, with a good arm. His speed is his best tool, with both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline putting a 70 grade on it. MLB Pipeline says he generates comparisons to Pete Crow-Armstrong and Drew Gilbert, while BA invokes Slade Caldwell and Slater de Brun as recent comps. He is a high energy guy who Pipeline describes as “playing with constant intensity.”
Condon hasn’t really been linked to the Rangers, from what I have seen. The most recent BA staff draft has him going to the Rangers at #16, but the staff draft is based on who the individuals making the picks would select — it explicitly states at the beginning that it is not a mock draft.
Condon is a high schooler out of Georgia, and at one time that seemed to be the Rangers’ preferred part of the draft pool to swim in. However, while he’s fast and a quality defender, he’s not exactly one of those “toolshed” guys the Rangers seemed to target back then, being someone who is hit over power, with a ceiling on how much power he’s expected to generate in the future.
The Rangers had been heavily college-focused with their premium picks until last year, when they took high school infielder Gavin Fien with their first round pick. They’ve been mentioned in connection with both college and prep players this year, though Jared Grindlinger seems to be the prep player who gets linked to the Rangers the most as of late. Nonetheless, Condon is projected to go around where the Rangers are picking, and the defense, speed and hit tool give him a relatively high ceiling for a high school player.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 09: Willie Randolph smiles during the New York Yankees Old Timers' Day prior to the game the game against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on August 9, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When you think about the people who helped define the New York Yankees, there is a long list of names worthy of respect. The organization is filled with all-time great players, managers, scouts, and executives whose legends have never faded. A little farther down that list is another name. Never the traditional statistical darling chasing records or historic milestones, but always steady, was Willie Randolph.
Willie Larry Randolph Born: July 6, 1954 (Holly Hill, SC) Yankees Tenure: 1976-88 (player); 1994-2004 (coach)
Randolph was born in South Carolina but was only there briefly. While still a baby, his parents moved from rural farm life to Brownsville in Brooklyn. It was there that Randolph came of age and attended Tilden High School in Flatbush. The school also produced NBA star, and fellow Hall of Fame snub, World B. Free, as well as civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton. A slick fielder with a promising bat and good speed, Randolph made a name for himself in New York from an early age.
The Pittsburgh Pirates were impressed enough by Randolph’s skill set that they selected him in the seventh round of the 1972 MLB Draft straight out of high school. After signing, Randolph began his professional career at just 17 years old in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. After getting a chance to cut his teeth, the Pirates moved the young right-hander to second base before the 1973 season and assigned him to Class A Charleston.
Playing in Charleston as one of the youngest players in the league, Randolph led the club in hits, doubles, triples, home runs, walks, and defensive assists. That performance earned him a promotion to Double-A Thetford Mines, where he again spent just one season before proving he was ready for the next level.
Once he reached Triple-A Charleston, Randolph had his true breakout season, slashing .339/.405/.479. That performance earned him a call to the majors at the end of July. In a brief debut, Randolph appeared in 30 games, collected his first 10 hits, and stole his first base. It was a successful introduction to the majors, and little did he know the coming offseason would define the rest of his career.
On December 11, 1975, Randolph was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with Ken Brett and Dock Ellis, to the New York Yankees for Doc Medich. The trade may truly be one of the most one-sided deals in Yankees history. The Pirates got one decent season from Medich, while Ellis had an even better year. The Yankees, meanwhile, found their second baseman for the next 13 seasons.
Randolph became the Yankees’ Opening Day second baseman in 1976, beginning a run of 13 consecutive Opening Day starts at the position. Technically still a rookie, Randolph made an immediate impression by earning an All-Star selection and setting what would remain his career high in stolen bases during his first full season.
The Yankees entered 1977 with high expectations and Reggie Jackson now in the fold. Randolph was moved to the top of the lineup and flourished. He earned his second straight All-Star selection, and the Yankees returned to the World Series to face the Dodgers. Despite struggling overall in the Fall Classic, Randolph played a key role in New York’s Game 1 victory. The Yankees ultimately claimed the series in six games.
The 1978 season was about as close to an adult Disney movie as baseball has ever produced. The Yankees stormed back from a 14½-game deficit to catch the Red Sox, and Randolph quietly did his part with another steady campaign. Unfortunately, a cruel twist of fate struck at the end of the season when an injury forced him to miss both the one-game playoff against Boston and the Yankees’ second straight World Series victory over the Dodgers.
Still just 24 years old, Randolph returned from injury to post another solid season in 1979. Then came the best year of his career in 1980. Randolph led the American League in walks, the only time he led the league in any offensive category, while slashing .294/.427/.407 and setting a career high with seven home runs. The performance earned him his third All-Star selection.
The 1980s proved to be a difficult decade for the Yankees. The franchise lacked stability, and every season without a World Series title only added to the frustration. One steady constant, however, was Randolph. His professionalism and consistency earned him one of the organization’s highest honors when he was named Yankees co-captain, sharing the role with Ron Guidry from 1986 until leaving the club after the 1988 season.
In 13 years as a player with the Yankees, Randolph collected 1,731 hits on a .275 average. He also stole 251 bases for the club and scored 1,027 runs. Randolph also ranks 53rd all-time among all Major League players with a 15.3 dWAR.
When Randolph reached free agency, he became something of a journeyman. He spent a year and change with the Dodgers before being traded north to the Athletics. That short stint in Oakland allowed him to be on the fifth pennant-winning team of his career, as the A’s won their third in a row before suffering an upset at the hands of the Reds in the World Series (Willie hit .304 in his last taste of October). Randolph signed with the Brewers for the 1991 season before finishing his playing career with the Mets in 1992.
It would not take long for Randolph to find his way back home. He rejoined the Yankees organization in the front office in 1993 before becoming Buck Showalter’s third-base coach in 1994, and more often than not, he was the infield coach as well. Randolph held these roles until becoming Joe Torre’s bench coach in 2004. During his Yankees coaching tenure, Randolph added four more World Series rings to the two he had won as a player.
The Mets hired Randolph as their manager before the 2005 season. In true Mets fashion, they enjoyed early success — notably winning the 2006 NL East and coming one Carlos Beltrán swing short of a pennant — before later collapsing down the stretch in 2007. They were one game under .500 in June 2008 when they infamously fired him in the middle of the night at roughly 3 a.m. ET during a West Coast road trip. (Even without Randolph, they collapsed again late in 2008.) Randolph finished his managerial career with a 302-253 record, as he never got another chance.
Over the decade that followed, Randolph coached in various capacities for the Brewers, Orioles, and Team USA. He also worked for several broadcasting companies and, this year, the now 72-year-old joined the YES Network studio show.
Outside of baseball, Randolph leads the Willie Randolph Foundation, which works to increase baseball opportunities for underserved boys and girls throughout the New York metropolitan area. He has also supported the Eluna Network, the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, and fundraising efforts for the Diabetes Research Institute.
In 2015, the Yankees honored Randolph’s excellent career as a player and coach with a plaque in Monument Park.
In a world that often focuses on the negative, it is hard to find much to criticize about Willie Randolph. Perhaps the greatest player in the Hall of Really Good, Randolph was a tremendous defender, a steady presence, and an outstanding representative of what it meant to wear Yankee pinstripes. Fans of other organizations have their own versions, but I’m glad Willie was ours.
Happy birthday, Willie!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Luguentz Dort #5 and Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Lakers are trying to build their roster into a championship contender, they’ve just lost a big piece of their team via free agency.
Rui Hachimura has reportedly agreed to sign with the Clippers on a two-year, $28 million deal, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.
Just in: Free agent Rui Hachimura has agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Cixx1ZGPV3
According to Charania, the Clippers and Hachimura agreed on a deal fairly early in free agency and waited to see if the Lakers were open to a sign-and-trade. However, the purple and gold were unwilling to work out a trade, likely due to the cap gymnastics they were already doing.
Realistically, a sign-and-trade would have never happened after the Lakers made their signings, so this feels like some agent posturing.
Hachimira and his agent Darren Matsubara of THE•TEAM came to an understanding with the Clippers early in free agency on finding a deal together. The sides waited for the Lakers to complete their offseason business to pursue a sign-and-trade, but the Lakers didn’t cooperate on an… https://t.co/3v2hzswKm6
Rui shared a message to Lakers fans on his Instagram following the report from Shams.
Rui Hachimura on Instagram: "Thank you Lakers Nation for the past three years. We had some great moments and I will always remember the memories we made together." pic.twitter.com/AfVLbIEAGs
Multiple reports in the aftermath of the signing indicated that Rui wanted to remain in Los Angeles but the Lakers did not prioritize him similarly, so he chose to sign with the Clippers over other teams.
Source says Rui, who wanted to stay in LA, prioritized Clippers over interest from Brooklyn, San Antonio, Golden State, Minnesota, and Portland. https://t.co/ydWzicpRy1
The Mavericks, who still possess the full $15 million midlevel, emerged as a suitor for Rui Hachimura along with the Clippers on top of Brooklyn's long-held interest … but Hachimura had a clear intention to stay in LA after 3 1/2 seasons as a Laker. https://t.co/PqxJ18SDF0
This past season, Hachimura carved out a solid role for himself as an elite shooter coming off the bench for head coach JJ Redick. He averaged 11.3 points and shot 44.3% from 3-point range in the 68 regular-season games he participated in.
In his 10 postseason games, all of his numbers improved as he averaged 17.5 points and shot a whopping 56.9% from 3-point range. Hachimura also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
His best game of the playoffs was arguably his Game 6 performance against the Rockets. He scored 21 points and went 5-7 from deep, helping LA eliminate Houston.
While he was a player whose flaws were oft-discussed, he was also someone who developed into a valuable role player during his time with the Lakers. Between that and becoming a fan favorite off the court, it’ll be tough to see him don a Clippers jersey next season.
Philadelphia stunned the NBA by trading Paul George for Jaylen Brown last week. Here's why Mike Gansey's blockbuster deal could reshape the franchise's championship window.
Full stop, I was not excited about this upcoming Philadelphia 76ers season. Not even a little bit.
The Sixers had just been swept out of the playoffs by the Knicks in the second round -- a team that went on to win the whole thing -- and the offseason was shaping up to be exactly the kind of quiet, underwhelming stretch that Philadelphia fans have become all too familiar with. Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes walked. Dean Wade got signed, which is fine -- Wade is a perfectly solid rotation player -- but he is not the kind of move that makes you look up from your phone. And then there's the whole Paul George situation, which was still hanging over everything like a storm cloud that refused to move.
It was looking, frankly, like another season of managed expectations and carefully worded press releases about culture and development. Then, new president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey picked up the phone. And everything changed.
The trade is stunning by any measure. The 76ers are sending George, two first-round picks in 2028 and 2031, and two second-rounders to Boston in exchange for Jaylen Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, a five-time All-Star, and one of the most productive players in the Eastern Conference over the last decade. Philadelphia doesn't just shed the most albatross of a contract in the league in one clean motion. They replace it with one of the best wings in the game, coming off the best season of his career.
That's not a good trade. That's a franchise-altering trade, and it was made by a first-time front office decision-maker in his first major move on the job. Gansey, the former college basketball grinder who worked his way up through Cleveland's scouting department, just did something in his first week that Daryl Morey -- one of the most celebrated executives in the history of the sport -- never managed to do in his entire tenure in Philadelphia: He fixed the PG problem.
Let's talk about what getting out of that contract actually means, because it's hard to overstate. George was owed $54.1 million this season and had a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28, a total of over $110 million for a 36-year-old who averaged 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in his second season with the Sixers and spent a quarter of the year serving a suspension. In any other trade scenario, the 76ers would have had to attach significant draft capital just to get another team to take that deal off their hands. Instead, they got Brown for it. As one league executive put it this week, you could make the case that Philadelphia essentially got Jaylen Brown for free. That is not hyperbole; that is just the math.
Now consider what Brad Stevens had to do on the other side of this trade. Stevens has been one of the most respected executives in the NBA since transitioning from coaching, coming off winning Executive of the Year last season. He built one of the most consistently excellent teams of the last decade. He is calm, methodical, and almost never reactive. And yet here he is, trading his cornerstone wing -- who, by the way, never asked to leave -- in the immediate aftermath of getting eliminated by the 76ers in the first round, after failing to land Giannis in what would have been an earth-shattering blockbuster.
This is Stevens panicking. It might be the first time anyone has ever been able to say that sentence with a straight face. The Celtics missed on Giannis, turned around, and traded Brown to a division rival. Jaylen Brown called himself "excited and disappointed" in the same statement. That tells you everything about how this went down in Boston.
Which brings us to the motivation angle, and this is the part that should genuinely scare the rest of the Eastern Conference. Brown doesn't just arrive in Philadelphia as a consolation prize. He arrives as a player who finished sixth in MVP voting last season, who has played in more wins than any player in the league over the last 10 years, and whom his own organization tried to trade numerous times over the years, and when that didn't work, shipped him out of town anyway without a phone call. That's fuel. That is the specific kind of disrespect that turns good players into great ones and great players into something else entirely. If Jaylen Brown comes to Philadelphia with a chip on his shoulder the size of the Liberty Bell, the 76ers are the direct beneficiary of every slight Boston just handed him.
And the roster he's walking into is genuinely frightening. Tyrese Maxey was the league's fifth-leading scorer last season. Joel Embiid is a two-time scoring champion when healthy. VJ Edgecombe is a walking playoff moment — the kid hit big shot after big shot in his first postseason and didn't blink, just winked -- and is only getting better. Now add Brown, and that's four legitimate options on any given night, four players who can take over a game in different ways, and a coaching staff in Nick Nurse that knows exactly what to do with that kind of versatility.
The contract continuity is also worth noting. Brown is owed $57 million this season, $61 million next, and $64.9 million in 2028-29. Maxey's extension kicks in. Embiid is locked up. Edgecombe is on his rookie deal through this window, which means the Sixers have two clean seasons to compete before they have to address what paying Edgecombe looks like when his extension comes due. The window is real, the runway is defined, and for the first time in what feels like years, the variables are actually manageable.
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images
None of this is guaranteed, of course. We're talking about the 76ers, after all -- the franchise where the improbable somehow becomes routine. This is the team that watched rookie Zhaire Smith nearly lose his life because of an undiagnosed peanut allergy, saw Markelle Fultz seemingly forget how to shoot, endured Ben Simmons' confidence completely evaporate, had fans uncover the infamous BurnerGate scandal involving Bryan Colangelo's secret accounts, and even somehow traded away hometown kid Mikal Bridges -- whose mother WORKED FOR THE TEAM -- on draft night, only to watch him eventually celebrate a championship with the Knicks years later.
Simply put: Something always seems to go sideways in Philadelphia. And that's not to mention the annual collective holding of breath in Philadelphia any time Embiid hits the floor, though some of those fears are somewhat eased by Brown's arrival, bringing one of the league's most reliable iron men to a roster that has desperately needed one thing over the years -- health. On top of that, Brown and Embiid have history; Brown literally called Embiid a flopper on a livestream after their playoff series. Chemistry will need to be built. And the depth behind the starting five is still thin enough that injuries could unravel everything in a hurry.
But here's the bottom line. The 76ers just escaped one of the worst contracts in basketball and landed one of the best two-way players in the sport in the same transaction. Whether you think Brown is slightly overrated -- and there are many people who do, this writer included -- the relevant comparison isn't Brown against the ideal. It's Brown against what the 76ers had before. A focused, motivated Jaylen Brown coming off his best season is infinitely preferable to a suspended, declining Paul George at $110 million over two years. That's not even a debate.
Philadelphia fans were bracing for another quiet summer. They got a blockbuster instead. Credit where it's due; Mike Gansey walked in the door and immediately made the biggest and best move this franchise has made in years.
The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals begin a four-game set at Busch Stadium tonight, with the two NL Central foes trading at even -110 odds ahead of the series opener.
My top Brewers vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks are calling for Milwaukee to secure a high-scoring win tonight.
Who will win Brewers vs Cardinals today: Brewers moneyline (-103)
Milwaukee ranking fourth in walk rate and third in on-base percentage against righties will make it all the more difficult for May to navigate the Brew Crew bats, too.
This Brewers moneyline is in play down to -105 for me.
Brewers vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+114)
Pair the highlighted strength of the Milwaukee offense with St. Louis also ranking third in xwOBA over the past 30 days and for the season, and we’ve got a perfect recipe for an Over. The Cards have averaged 5.2 runs per game during the stretch, too.
Finally, the Brewers and Cardinals respectively rank 27th and 25th in bullpen xFIP across the past two weeks, so this Over has my attention down to +100.
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 40-18, +24.41 units
Over/Under bets: 17-14, +1.85 units
Brewers vs Cardinals weather
The forecast at Busch Stadium calls for comfortable, clear conditions in the mid-70s with minimal humidity and light 5 mph winds to have a limited impact on playing conditions.
Brewers vs Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Brewers -110 | Cardinals -110
Run line: Brewers -1.5 (+150) | Cardinals +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-115) | Under 8 (-105)
Brewers vs Cardinals trend
The Brewers have won 33 of their last 50 games for +9.30 units and a 12% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Brewers vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Monday, July 6, 2026
First pitch
7:45 p.m. ET
TV
Brewers.TV, Cardinals.TV
Brewers starting pitcher
Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.12 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Dustin May (5-6, 4.80 ERA)
Brewers vs Cardinals latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The San Francisco Giants offense has been on a tear over their last six games. Yes, that stretch came in Denver, but they now draw another vulnerable arm back at home. Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman has struggled over his last few outings.
In his last three starts, he owns a 9.00 ERA, 6.04 xERA, and a 2.14 WHIP. Over his last five, he has a 6.58 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.
According to Batters-Box current-season ratings, the Giants have six elite-rated hitters and one strongly rated bat, giving them the second-highest-rated offense on the slate.
I like Rafael Devers in this matchup, but with so many elite bats in play, I prefer to back the full-team approach. If he gets there, he is likely driving runs in as part of the bigger scoring picture.
At +110 for 3+ runs, it is a strong price. If anything, I would only play this down to even money at most.
Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSBA, Sportsnet
Mike Burrows Under 16.5 Outs (-129)
There are multiple ways to attack Astros right-hander Mike Burrows this evening, including Over earned runs, the Nationals F5 team total Over, and the Under on his outs.
The Washington Nationals enter today with the third-highest-rated offense on Batters-Box’s current season ratings, featuring four elite-rated hitters and two strongly rated bats. In the current matchup ratings, Burrows grades poorly in ISO, hard-contact rate, strikeout rate, and ground-ball rate.
Over their last 12 games, the Nationals offense has been rolling, posting a 132 wRC+, .359 wOBA, .821 OPS, and .225 ISO.
In the season, they are the second-highest-scoring first-five-inning offense, averaging 3.11 runs per game. If they can get to Burrows early and often, his outing could be short.
With the options above, take the best value.
Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NATS, SCHN
Cristopher Sanchez Over 6.5 Strikeouts (-125)
We know the Kansas City Royals are one of the toughest teams in baseball to strike out, but over their last few games their strikeout rate has ticked up, and against southpaws they have not fared well either.
Cristopher Sanchez to record 7+ strikeouts feels very doable. He enters with one of the highest pitcher ratings on the day over at Batters-Box. When graded as elite, he clears 6+ strikeouts 72.73% of the time and 7+ strikeouts 63.64% of the time. He has gone over this number in nine of his last ten elite-rated starts.
The Royals have five batters with strikeout rates of at least 23.3% in their last 30 at-bats against left-handed pitching. As a team over their last 12 games, their strikeout rate is hovering around 25.5%.
I will trust the trends and one of baseball's best pitchers to get it done. Play this up to -130.
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ROYL, NBCSP
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 267-509, -19.0 units |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Memphis has Zach Edey at center and has agreed to trade for Isaiah Stewart as a backup big, but the team wanted a more traditional five and a big body behind Edey. So they went after a Golden State restricted free agent.
Warriors restricted free agent center Quinten Post will sign a three-year, $30 million offer sheet with the Grizzlies, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. That gives the Warriors 48 hours — until 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday to match the offer, or Post is headed to Memphis. That $10 million a year price tag may make it too pricy for the Warriors to match, reports Anthony Slater of ESPN. Especially if they are going to make an offer to LeBron James or others.
Post took a step forward in his second season, particularly on defense, and he averaged 7.7 points and four rebounds a night, averaging a little more than 17 minutes per game. In a Western Conference with Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Chet Holmgren, Walker Kessler and more, every team is looking for big bodies and ways to defend more inside.
A restricted free agent signing an offer sheet has become increasingly rare in recent years — the last player to sign an offer sheet without it being matched was Bogdan Bogdanovic in 2020, going from Sacramento to Atlanta. Usually, teams and players work out a number that suits both sides (although without much leverage, it is often a team-friendly deal), or they work out a sign-and-trade, as recently seen with Walker Kessler going from the Jazz to the Lakers.
This offer sheet also uses means some salary cap rules gymnasitcs for Memphis.
Quinten Post's offer sheet will come out of the Non-Taxpayer MLE for the Grizzlies, if the Warriors don't match.
That means that Memphis will likely tie the Isaiah Stewart acquisition into the Santi Aldama trade. Expect that one to ultimately be a four- or five-team deal.
COVERS INTEL: The Braves have posted 
Kevin Gausman
Mike Burrows
Cristopher Sanchez